Electric flatiron cut-out



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,314

0. A. COLBY" ELECTRIC FLATIRON CUT-OUT Filed Sept. 28. 1921 PatentedDec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,417,314 PATENT OFFICE.

' ORA A. COLBY, OF IRWIN, PENNSYLI TANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' ELECTRIC FLATIRON our-our.

Application filed September 28, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA A. CoLBY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Irwin, in the county of VVestmoreland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricFlatiron Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrically heated devices and particularly tocircuit controllers therefor, and it has for one of its objects toprovide a relatively simple and inexpensive temperature-limiting andcircuit-intermpting means for an electrically heated iron.

Another object is to provide a device of the above indicated characterwhich will 00- cupy relatively small space and may be mounted in anon-removable terminal casing attached to the iron, the device beingdirectly connected to the terminals of the heating element.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit-interruptingdevice of the above indicated characterwhich employs a. 25 conductingfluid placed in an insulating con tainer and operative to interrupt thecircuit when the temperature of the body portion of the iron exceeds apredetermined value but which is also operative to interrupt the circuitwhen the iron is moved in a predetermined manner by the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a current-indicating meansalso located in the terminal casing.

In practising my invention, I provide a terminal casing located at therear end of the iron and suitably secured a ainst one of the handlestraps, Within which is placed a circuit-interrupting means embodying'my invention.

The circuit-interrupting means comprises a tubular container of glass orother suitable material of substantially U-sha-pe provided with twoconducting leads projecting into the container and located in spacedrelation in one of the legs of the container. A quantity of mercury isplaced in the container, sufficient to operatively engage both terminalleads, which are secured, at their outer ends,

respectively, to one end of the terminal straps of the heating elementand to'one of the supply-circuit conductors which project into theterminal casing.

I provide, also, a current-indicating means Serial No. 503,796.

comprising a magnetizable member mounted inside of the terminal casingand having a portion projecting outward-1y therethrough and an actuatingmeans therefor comprising a small coil connected between the otherterminal stra of the heating element and the other supp y-circuitconductor.

I am aware of a similar circuit-interrupting device disclosed in acopending ap lication, Serial No. 502,631, filed by L. N. (Jrich ton andassigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. Thedevice disclosed in the above mentioned application operates in asubstantially different manner from the one disclosed in the presentapplication and such differences will be hereinafter set forth indetail.

In the single sheet of drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, mainl in side elevation but partly in section, 0 anelectrically heated iron equipped with the device embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view, inrear elevation, of the circuit-interrupting andcurrent-indicating devices as mounted in the inner terminal casing part;

Fig. 3 is a view, in substantially vertical longitudinal section, on theline III-III of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a view, in rear elevation, of the rear casing part;

Fig. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the rear casing part;

Fig. 6 is a view, in side elevation, of the circuit-interrupting deviceembodying my invention illustrated in substantially its normal operativeposition;

Fig. 7 IS a View, in rear elevation, of the device illustrated in Fig.6'

Fig. 8 is a view of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 after it has beencaused to operate to interrupt the circuit by reason of an abnormallyhigh temperature of the iron;

Fig. 9 is a view of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 when the iron hasbeen tilted upon its heel to cause the conducting fluid in the device tointerrupt the circuit, and

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are views, in side elevation, of modificationsof the circuit-in terrupting device embod ing my invention.

An electrically heate iron, designated generally by the numeral 20,comprises a working member or sole plate 21, a top plate 22 and aheating element 23 clamped therelid Cu....'l

against the body portion by means of a bolt 26. A plurality of handlestrap members 27 and 28 may be secured, at their lower ends, against thecover 25 by rivets 29, and may support, at their upper ends, a handlenem- 11a will-not be described further in detail.

The heating element 23 may be of any desired or suitable construction emloyed in electrically heated irons and, theref jorre,

he ends of the resistor of the heating element are connected to terminalmembers 32 which are, in turn, securely clamped against terminal straps33 by means of bolts 34. The terminal straps 33 are maintained in theirproper operative positions by a'terminal-supporting bridge 35,substantially of U-shape, which is securely clamped against the bodyportion by means of the rear bolt 24. Tnsu; latingmembers 36 and 37 areplaced between the terminal straps 33 and the'supporting member 35 and.between the head of the bolt 34 and the member 35 to suitably insulatethese members from each other.

A terminal casing 38 comprises two substantially similar metalcasing-parts 39 and 41 which co-operate, when placed in opposed abuttingrelation, to form a terminal casing which may be located at the rear ofthe iron and secured against the,terminal strap 28 by any suitablemeans, not shown. The lower ends of the casing parts 39 and 41 projectthrough an opening 42 in the top and rear of the cover 25.

A support, which may be a sheet of mica or a heavier member 43 ofsuitable insulat mg material, is located within the casing 38 and issuitably secured against the inner casing part 39 to support a pluralityof insulated screw terminal-contacts 44 and 45. A recess 46 is providedin the member 43 within which is placed a circuit-interrupting means 47comprising a tubular member of glass or quartz bent to substantiallyU-shape and provided with a plurality of terminal leads 48 and 49,projecting into the container in one of the legs thereof. The container47 is partly filled with a body 51 of a conducting fluidyisuch asmercury, and is evacurevent ated or filled with an inert as .tooxidation or the conducting uid an of the inner ends of the conductingleads 48 and 49. The dimensions of the recess or chamber 46 and of themember 47 are such that the memher 47 does not touch the member 43 to besupported thereby. The outer ended the conducting lead 48 is secured bythe terminal screw 44, and the outer end of the conducting lead 49 issecured against one of the terminal straps 33 by means of a suitableclamping narrate screw 52. This construction provides a substantiallyresilient mounting for the contain'er 47 and holds the device at aslight angle from the vertical.

A current-indicating means comprises a winding 53 which may be placedupon a suitable insulating spool 54, the coil being supported by theterminals of the winding, one of which is held by one of the screws ofthe contact 45 and the other of which is connected to the other of theterminal straps 33 of the heating element 23. A movable indicating meanscomprises an elongated magnetizable member 55 which may be pivoted, atits lower end, on the outer casing part 41. An integral extension 56 onthe member 55 is attracted by and moves toward or into the Winding 53when the same is traversed by a current. The member 55 is provided, atits upper end, with an integral extension 57 .which projects outwardlythrough an opening 58 in the rear casingpart when'the coil 53 is nottraversed by a current. The portion 57 may be painted a suitable colortobe easily noticed by the operatoras long as it projects outwardlythrough the casing-part. The form of the described, through the casingwhen the iron is not being energized and 1s in its normal operatingposition, that is, with the outer surface of the sole plate in asubstantially horizontal position.

A supply-circuit cord 59 projects into the casing 38 and has one of itsconductors connected to the terminal 44and its other conductor connectedto the terminal 45. A coil spring 61 maybe placed around the conductor59 immediately adjacent the casing 38 to prevent undue kinking of thesupplycircuit cord during the operation of the iron.

The preferred form of the circuit-interrupting member 47 is thatillustrated in 15 igs. 6 to 9, inclusive, in which the leads 48 and 49project at right angles from the plane of the two legs of the member,this construction permitting of the smallest'number of bends or turns ineach of the leads 48 and 49 when their outer ends are connected re.-spectively to the terminal 44 and to the terminal strap 33. The innerleg of the member 47 is made shorter-than the outer leg and may be apredetermined amount less in length .than the outer leg so that it mayrest against a projection, not illustrated, formed in the insulatingmember 43 to insure that 3 modifications of the member 47, themodifiupper lead 48 is coaxial with" the lower lead interrupting thecircuit at this point.

49 and with one of the legs of the member 47. In Fig. 12 the leads 48and 49 are brought out at right angles to one of the legs and in theplane of the member 47. In

Fig. 13 the upper lead 48 is at right angles to the plane of the member47 and the lower lead 49 is substantially the same as described inconnection with Figs. 10 and 11. I

The rear casingpart 41 may be maintained in its operative positionrelatively to the inner casing part 39 by means of two metal members 62securedto the sidesof the member 41 and projecting into the inner casingpart 39 and secured thereto by means of suitable screws 63. The lowerend of the member 41 extends into the opening 42 in the hood 25, thisextension operating to secure the lower end of the casing part 41against the inner casing part 39.

The hereinbefore described method of, and means for, mounting the member47 locates the lower end of the outer leg of the member 47 inheat-receiving relation to the body portion of the iron. If it beassumed that the iron has been energized by connecting thesupply-circuit conductors 59 to a suitable source of energy (not shown)and that the iron is not being used, or is being used very little, sothat the temperature of the body portion-approaches or exceeds apredetermined safe limit, the circuit-interrupting device 47 operates inthe following manner:

The heat radiated from the rear end of the body portion affects theconducting fluid in the member 47 and ultimately vaporizes a relativelysmall amount thereof at the lower end of the container. As thisvaporized conducting .fluid tends to occupy a greater space than when inits normal condition, it forces the conducting fluid above it upwardlyuntil it becomes disengaged from the lower conducting lead 49, thusinitially A slight arc is formed vaporizes an additional quantity ofconduding fluid,which sudden vaporization causes an eruptive'action inthe container near the lower lead 49, resulting in the upper portion ofthe conducting fluid being thrown over into the inner and tion thequantity ofmercury remaining in the thereby which suddenly"previously-empty legof the member 47. After this eruptive a'c-.

ducting fluid in the two legs of the mem ber 47 being substantially asillustrated in Ff the operator desires to reclose the circuit it is onlynecessary to give the iron a sudden quick turning movement on itstransverse axis in a backward direction which causes the mercury locatedin the inner leg of th container-47 to again flow into the outer leg andengage the upper lead 48 as soon as the iron has been placed in itsnormal operating position. Any attempt, by the operator, to close thecircuit before the temperature of the body portion of the iron hasfallen below the predetermined value will be ineffectiv because, afterthe circuit has been interrupted, as hereinbefore described, a quantitof vapor is retained in the end of the tu e to prevent engagementbetween the lead 49 and the mercury until the vapor has been condensedbecause of a reduction of the temperature of the iron. The hereinbeforedescribed location of the device permits the vaporizing action to takeplace in the lower end of the outer leg only, that portion of theconducting fluid located in the upper end of the outer leg having alower temperature. 1

It is also possible to reclose the circuit, after the device hasoperated by reason of excess temperature, by momentarily resting theiron on the heel and the terminal casing with the sole plate in asubstantially vertical position, at which time the conducting fluidoccupies substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 9. If the ironis then tilted forward on the heel the circuit is again closed, with theconducting fluid substantially in the position shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawing.

The operator may manually interrupt the circuit either by tilting theiron backwards on its heel until the iron rests on the heel and on theterminal casing, the position of the member 47 being then substantiallythat illustrated in Fig. 9 in which the mercury oc cupies a portion ofthe upper end of the outer leg and also a portion of th upper end of theinner le the circuit being, therefore, interrupted etween the lead 49and the conducting fluid 51, or the operator may grasp the iron by thehandle 31 and give the same a sudden, quick forward turning movement onits transverse axis which will result in a portion of mercury beingshifted into the forward leg of the member 47, the two portions ofconductingfluid occupying substantially the positions illustrated inFig. 8 as soon as the iron is returned to its normal operatinglposition, with the sole plate substantially orizontal.

It may be noted that the device embodying my invention provides acompact, relatively simple and easily manufactured circuit-interruptingdevice which may be located in a ilt non-removable terminal casing, thedevice being substantially resiliently mounted to prevent breakage. llheaction oi the device embodying my invention differs substantially fromany heretofore known in the art and results in a quick interruption ofthe circuit upon the occurrence of a predetermined high temperature inthe body portion of the iron. The circuit-interrupting device permits ofeasily reclosing the circuit when desired by the operator and permittedby the thermal conditions of the iron and also permits of easy manualinterruption of the circuit whenever desired by the operator.

The current-indicating means comprises a relatively simple and easilymanufactured device located in the terminal casing which operates withthe circuit-interrupting device to indicate when the circuit 18 closedor when it has been interrupted either automatically or manually.

While I have illustrated and described the device embodying myinvention. as applied to an iron, it is not limited thereto but isapplicable to any portable electrically heated device.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire thatonly such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by theprior. art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

1. A circuit controller for an electrically heated device comprising aheating element, and a non-removable terminal casing, said controllercomprising a .container in said casing, spaced terminals project-inginto said container, and a conductingfluid in said container normallyengaging saidterminals,

said container being so located in said cas-- ing that only oneendthereof is thermally influenced by said heating element.

2. A circuit controller for an electrically heated'device having aheating element comprising a circuit-interrupting means there for havinga column of a conducting fluid, only one end of said column beingthermally acted upon by said heating elesaid controller comprisinga-circuit-inter ment.

31A circuit controller for an electrically heated device comprising aheating element,

and terminal straps for said heating element rupting means directlyconnected to. and

supported by, one of said terminal straps.

4:. A, circuit controller for an electrically heated device comprising'aheating element,

' I and terminal straps for said heating element,

said controller comprising a container, a column of a 'conducti'ngfluldin said container and means for conducting current to and from the fluidin said container and for supporting said controller.

5. A circuit controller for an electrically fluid column, onl

rea er-a heated device, comprising a plural-contact circuit-interruptingmeans whereby the circuit is interrupted initially at one end of saidcontacts and interrupted permanently.

at the other of said contacts.

6. A circuit controller for an electrically heated device, comprising aplural-contact circuit-interruptin means whereby the circuit isinterrupte momentarily at one of said contacts and interruptedpermanently at the other of said contacts.

7. A circuit controller for an electrically circuitinterrupting heateddevice, comprising a plural-contact circuit-interrupting means wherebythe circuit is interrupted initially at one of said contacts and isinterrupted permanently at the other of said contacts, said means beingoperative to reclose the circuit by a turning movement of said device.

10. A circuit controller foran electrically heated device, comprising aplural-contact circuit-interrupting means for initially interrupting thecircuit, therethrough 'at one of said contacts and permanentlyinterrupting thecircuit at the other of said contacts at a predeterminedtemperature in said device and for preventing the reclosing of thecircuit until the temperature of said device has fallen below said'predetermined value.

11. A circuit controller for an electrically heated device, having aheating element, said controller comprising a column of a conductingfluid and a pair of contact terminals normally operatively engaging saidone end of saidfluid column being in eat-receiving relation to saidheating element, whereby the circuit is initially interrupted at thecontact adjacent said end and is permanently interrupted at a the otherof said contacits, when the temperature of said heating element reachesa predetermined value. 4

12. A circuit interrupting means for an electrically heated devicecomprising a heating element, terminals therefor, a terminal casingsecured to said iron, and supply-circuit conductors extending into saidterminal casing, said means comprising a currentindicatin'g means and acircuit-interrupting device 1n sald caslng electrlcally connected tosaid terminals and to said conductors.

- heated device comprising a heating element,

terminals therefor, a terminal casingisecured to said iron, andsupply-circuit conductors extending into said terminal casing, saidcontroller comprising a magnetica ly actuated current-indicating meansand a circuit-interrupting means located in said casing and electricallyconnected to said terminals-and to said conductors.

14. A circuit controller for an electrically heated device comprising aterminal casing secured to said iron, said controller being located insaid casing and comprising an insulating tubular container bent tosubstantially U-shape, a plurality of spaced contact terminalsprojecting into said container in one of the legs thereof, and aquantity of a conducting fluid operatively engaging said terminals whenthe device is in its normal operative position, a portion of said fluidflowing into the other leg of said container when the device is given aturning movement on its transverse axis.

150 A circuit interrupting means for an electrically heated devicecomprising a heating element, and a terminal casing secured to saiddevice, said circuit-interrupting means being located in said casing andcom-- prisin an insulating tubular container bent to su stantiallyUshape, a plurality of spaced contact terminals pro ecting into saidcontainer in one of the legs thereof and a conducting fluid operativelyengaging said contact terminals when the device is in its normalposition and one end of said container being in heat-receiving relationto said heating element whereby a portion of said fluid adjacentthe'said end is volatilized upon the occurrence of a predeterminedtemperature in said heating element and forces a sufficient quantity offluid into the other leg of said container to become disengaged from oneof said contact termlnals an thereby interrupt the circuit.

16. A circuit interrupting means for an electrically heated devicecomprising a heating element, terminals therefor, a terminal casing, andsupply-circuit conductors, said circuit-interrupting means being locatedin said casing and comprising an insulating tubular container ofsubstantially U-shape, a conducting fluid in one of the legs of saidcontainer, and a plurality of spaced current-conducting leads, one endof said leads projecting through the wall of said container andoperatively engaging said fluid and the other end thereof engaging,respectively, one of the supply-circuit conductors and one of theheating-element terminals and thereby resiliently supporting the saidcontainer.

17. A circuit interrupting means for an electrically heated devicecomprising a terminal casing, said circuit-interrupting means beinglocated in said casing and comprising a plurality of leads forconducting current to and from said means and for resiliently supportingthe same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th dayof September 1921.

ORA A. COLBY.

